A’Ibom hospital board faces sacking

[Punch]

The Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has threatened to sack the management board of the state hospital over its inability to provide free medical treatment to pregnant women, the aged and children under five years of age.

Speaking during the 2013 Democracy Day in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital, on Wednesday, Akpabio said the government had investment large sums in buying drugs for distribution to patients and would not accept a situation where doctors and nurses continue to steal the drugs undeterred.

He said, "The free medical treatment we are talking about; some of the doctors and nurses are sabotaging it. If you go to the hospitals you won't see any of the doctors; we provide the free drugs and somebody will carry them to his own private hospital.

"I will take decision and change all that. By next week you will know that I am going to revamp the entire system so that the hospitals can work for you.

"I don't want the hospitals to remain mortuaries. I want them to be where you go and get back your life."

Akpabio revealed that maternal mortality in the state had reduced by 75 per cent. He noted that the success could be attributed to free medical service for pregnant women, adding that he was not happy with the trend of taking pregnant women to churches for delivery instead of hospitals.

He said the practice had led to a number of women losing their lives during child birth.

He said, "The information I have about pregnant women shows that women who die at child birth in the state for the past one year has reduced drastically by 75 per cent. The success can be attributed to the free medical care for pregnant women.

"Do not take women who want to deliver to churches. Instead take the pastors to hospitals to pray for them. If the pregnant woman has obstructing labour, the pastor cannot operate," he said.

Akpabio askedall citizens in the state to look around their areas and tell government where they can intervene."

The Punch